ASFMRA AFM study guide
ASFMRA AFM · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) is a professional designation awarded by the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) to individuals who manage agricultural land and production operations on behalf of farmland owners. AFMs combine expertise in crop and livestock production, commodity marketing, soil conservation, financial analysis and accounting, leasing and tenant selection, improvement project management, and real estate brokerage to help clients protect asset value and generate cash returns. The ASFMRA AFM study guide has 5 sections and about 1,558 words.
01Agricultural Land Management I: Soils, Productivity, and Land Classes
Land management begins with the physical asset. Candidates must be comfortable with soil texture and structure (sand, silt, clay proportions and how each affects water-holding capacity, drainage, and workability), soil pH and the lime requirement, cation exchange capacity (CEC) as a measure of nutrient-holding ability, organic matter as a driver of tilth and moisture retention, and drainage class.
339 words, about 2 min02Agricultural Land Management II: Leases, Water, and Conservation Practices
This domain covers how land is put to work: lease structures, water rights, and conservation programs. Know the main lease types-cash rent, crop share, and flexible or bushel leases-and how each allocates price, yield, and input risk between landlord and tenant.
322 words, about 2 min03Agricultural Land Management III: Improvements, Buildings, and Highest and Best Use
Improvements on agricultural land-fences, corrals, irrigation systems, grain storage, barns, and dwellings-must be analyzed for contribution to value, not just cost. Understand functional and economic obsolescence: a specialized facility may add little to a buyer who will not use it, and over-improvement relative to the land's productivity can be a value drag.
290 words, about 1 min04Agricultural Land Management IV: Income, Risk, and Sustainable Operations
This domain ties management to the numbers. Candidates should understand enterprise budgets (revenue minus variable and fixed costs), gross and net returns per acre, break-even yields and prices, and how rotation, tillage, and input choices change the cost structure.
298 words, about 1 min05ASFMRA Best in Business Ethics
Ethics questions test professional conduct, not calculation. Know the core duties: competence (only accept work you are qualified to perform), objectivity and independence, confidentiality of client information, integrity and avoidance of conflicts of interest, and full disclosure of any interest that could bias an opinion.
309 words, about 2 min